Michigan Chapter Update
June 1, 2014
In This Issue:
- Call Now on Dangerous Industrial By-Product Bills Up for Vote in MI Senate!
- DEQ Permit Puts Major Polluter Ahead of Dearborn-area Residents
- Fun and Fundraiser for Southeast Michigan Group June 14
- Poll Finds DTE Customers, Michigan Voters Support Clean Energy
- Help Collect Important Stream Water Flow Data
- Register for Family Fun on Lake Michigan Aug. 22-24!
- Volunteer Heather Miller Honored for Clean Energy Work
- Thank You, Anderson Middle School!
- Kalkaska Youth Help with River Restoration
Call Now on Dangerous Industrial By-Product Bills Up for Vote in MI Senate!
Last week the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee approved House Bills 5400-5402 which will expand the reuse of coal ash and other potentially hazardous industrial byproducts. These dangerous materials would be used as construction fill, foundational material for roads, or soil conditioner for farm fields! This could result in heavy metals and other contaminants leaching into the surrounding soil and ground water. This is absolutely unacceptable for Michigan where we depend on a thriving outdoor recreation and tourism industry, not to mention our responsibility as stewards to one-fifth of the world's fresh water. Please call your State Senator today and tell them that this legislation is bad for Michigan and tell them to vote NO on House Bills 5400-5402. You can find your legislator's contact info here. |
Statements to the press by the Snyder Administration indicate that recent interference by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation into the state's environmental permitting process isn't unusual. |
DEQ Permit Puts Major Polluter Ahead of Dearborn-area Residents
The Snyder Administration's recent decision to grant a new, weak air pollution permit to Severstal's Dearborn steel plant, one of the state's leading polluters, has drawn sharp criticism from the Sierra Club. Since 2010, Severstal has been the target of 117 complaints and more that 20 environmental violation notices from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for failure to comply with its current permit. However, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) inserted itself in the permitting process and actively pressured DEQ to weaken permit conditions despite strong misgivings by DEQ's professional staff, according to internal emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
Fun and Fundraiser for Southeast Michigan Group
Sat., June 14, 5:30 p.m. Event will benefit the Southeast Michigan
Group's programs to protect Michigan's environment. TICKETS: $40 per person or $70 per couple. ADVANCE DISCOUNT: $35 per person if received by June 6. |
River Rouge residents Alisha Winters and Ebony Waters and Sierra Club Senior Organizing Manager Teresa McHugh outside DTE's annual shareholder meeting with signs calling on the utility to switch to clean energy. |
Poll Finds DTE Customers, Michigan Voters Support Clean Energy
A new poll released last week by the Sierra Club shows a strong percentage of DTE Energy's customers and Michigan voters favor clean, renewable energy sources to power the state. The poll by Public Policy Partners comes out as the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) wraps up a two-month solar working group focused on expanding DTE's customer-owned SolarCurrents program. The pilot program looked at how to include community solar projects in DTE's portfolio.
"The results of this poll back up what we are hearing throughout Michigan -- our state is ready for more renewable energy, particularly solar power," said Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club Michigan's state director, who attended the MPSC solar working group sessions. "For years, Michiganders have been strong supporters of increased renewable energy, and the poll shows that support is as strong as ever. DTE especially should take note of what their customers are saying -- they want more clean energy."
According to the poll, more than three in five DTE customers and Michigan voters (62 percent of both samples) say they support replacing the state's coal-burning power plants with renewable energy sources. The majority of voters sampled--60 percent of Michigan voters statewide and 62 percent of those who are DTE customers--say they're concerned about "asthma attacks and other potential health problems from soot, smog and other pollution from coal-burning power plants." This survey finding suggests that widespread concern about the impacts of fossil-fuel burning could be behind support for more renewables.
Help Collect Important Stream Water Flow Data
Our friends at Michigan Trout Unlimited are planning several hands-on stream flow monitoring trainings to collect important data. Aquatic biologist Kristin Thomas received specialized training from scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey and has been hard at work putting this project together. You can help! See more about the program and great photos here.
Training dates are planned in June as the water levels fall to more normal levels in southwest Michigan on the Gun River and perhaps others, working with the Kalamazoo Valley TU (date to be determined) and in northwest Michigan on the Upper Manistee, Boardman and Rapid Rivers, likely on June 23 (location is river-level and weather dependent).
To sign up, please contact Kristin Thomas directly at kthomas@michigantu.org or at 616-460-0477.
There's fun for the whole family at the Chapter Annual Retreat on Lake Michigan Aug. 22-24. |
Register Now for Family Fun on Lake Michigan Aug. 22-24!
Enjoy Pure Michigan at the Michigan Chapter Annual Retreat Aug. 22-24. This fun, family-oriented event takes place at historic Camp Miniwanca, a private Lake Michigan gem just north of Muskegon. Located among 360 wooded acres, the facility offers everything from tent camping to rooms near the lake or among the pines. You can spend time kayaking, sailing, river tubing, swimming high ropes course, guided hike, scavenger hunts, campfires, yoga, kite flying or just chilling by the lake at sunset.
The modest retreat fee covers all activities and workshops, five meals, two nights' lodging and memories and connections to last a lifetime. For more information, including camp location and registration, contact Cecilia Garcia, cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org or at 517-484-2372, x10.
Don't delay! Space is limited, so register online today!
Alden resident and Chapter volunteer Heather Miller received the White Pine Award for her clean energy work at a recent meeting of the Clearwater Conservation Committee in Kalkaska. Committee Chair Rebecca Estelle-Skeels (left) is pictured with Heather and her award. |
Volunteer Heather Miller Honored for Clean Energy Work
The Michigan Chapter Awards are always a highlight of the Chapter's annual retreat. Each year we recognize exemplary individuals to express appreciation for all they've done to make Michigan a better place. In 2013, Alden resident Heather Miller won the White Pine Award but was unable to attend the retreat, so we arranged for her to receive it at a recent meeting of the Chapter's Clearwater Conservation Committee at the Kalkaska United Methodist Church. The award acknowledged Heather's deep commitment to a clean energy future and the democratic process.
Specifically, Heather has helped create a clean energy voting block in her electric co-op and sent a strong message that the co-op's members don't want to stay on a fossil fuel-dependent trajectory. Since 2011 she has worked to recruit and elect clean energy candidates for the co-op to fight a proposed coal plant in Rogers City.
The Clearwater Conservation Committee (CCC) serves Antrim, Crawford, Kalkaska, Missuakee, Otsego and Roscommon Counties. Volunteer opportunities with the CCC are available on a variety of issues and activities. For details, contact Committee Chair Rebecca Estelle-Skeels at sierraclubclearwatergroup@gmail.com or call 231-369-2090.
Thank You, Anderson Middle School!
Anderson Middle School in Berkley, Mich., recently selected the Michigan Sierra Club as an environmental charity to support by donating a considerable portion of proceeds from a school dance during Earth Week.
A huge thanks goes to these students and instructors Lisa Montes and Laura Cojocari for their commitment to Michigan's environment and their generosity! Pictured at right are some of the Anderson students planting flowers in pots made out of recycled plastic jugs.
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